According to Statistics Estonia, in the 1st quarter of 2016, the average monthly gross wages and salaries were 1,091 euros and the average hourly gross wages and salaries were 6.86 euros. Compared to the 1st quarter of 2015, the average monthly gross wages and salaries increased by 8.1% and the average hourly gross wages and salaries by 7.7%. In the 1st quarter, the average annual growth of monthly gross wages and salaries was slightly faster than in the 4th quarter of 2015.

The increase of wages and salaries was mainly due to the irregular bonuses and premiums, which increased 32.5% per employee compared to the 1st quarter of 2015 and which affected the increase in average gross monthly wages and salaries by 0.8 percentage points. Without irregular bonuses and premiums, the average monthly gross wages and salaries increased by 7.2% in the 1st quarter. Additionally, minimum wages increased from 390 euros to 430 euros at the beginning of the year.

Real wages, which take into account the influence of the change in the consumer price index, increased faster than the average monthly gross wages and salaries (8.5%) in the 1st quarter of 2016 compared to the 1st quarter of 2015 due to the continued decrease in consumer prices. Compared to the same quarter of the previous year, real wages have been increasing since the second half of 2011.

The average gross monthly and hourly wages and salaries increased in the 1st quarter of 2016 in almost all economic activities, except in other service activities. The largest increase of monthly and hourly wages and salaries occurred in administrative and support service activities, accommodation and food service activities and in information and communication activities. Private sector was the growth driver of wages and salaries in the 1st quarter, with the annual gross wages and salaries increase of 8.8%.

According to the Wages and Salaries Statistics Survey, the number of employees converted to full-time units decreased by 1.3% compared to the 1st quarter of 2015. The largest decrease occurred in activities with wages and salaries lower than the average monthly gross wages and salaries – in real estate activities and in other service activities.

The average monthly gross wages and salaries were 1,067 euros in January, 1,058 euros in February and 1,148 euros in March.

In the 1st quarter of 2016, the average monthly labour costs per employee were 1,476 euros and the hourly labour costs were 9.75 euros, which have increased 8.5% and 8.3% respectively, compared to the 1st quarter of 2015.

Average monthly gross wages and salaries and their change compared to the same quarter of the previous year, 1st quarter 2014 – 1st quarter 2016

Year

Quarter

Average gross wages and salaries, euros

Change compared to the same quarter of the previous year, %

2016

I

1091

8,1

2015

I

1010

4,5

II

1082

5,8

III

1045

6,9

IV

1105

6,4

2014

I

966

7,3

II

1023

4,8

III

977

5,0

IV

1039

5,3

Statistics Estonia conducts the Wages and Salaries Statistics Survey on the basis of an international methodology since 1992. In 2016, the sample includes 12,350 enterprises, institutions and organisations. The average monthly gross wages and salaries have been given in full time units to enable a comparison of different wages and salaries, irrespective of the length of working time. Calculations of the monthly gross wages and salaries are based on payments for actually worked time and remuneration for time not worked. The hourly gross wages and salaries do not include remuneration for time not worked (holiday leave pay, benefits, etc.). In short-term statistics, the average gross wages and salaries are measured as a component of labour costs. Labour costs include gross wages and salaries, employer’s contributions and employer’s imputed social contributions to employees.